Mongolia starts to supply over 90 percent of power with domestic sources

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. In accordance with an intergovernmental agreement between Mongolia and the Russian Federation, four turbo-generators of the Thermal Power Plant No.4 have been upgraded and connected to the Central Energy System with a total cost of USD 93 million. As a result of the expansion, the installed capacity of the coal-fired thermal power plant has been increased by 89 MW to 789 MW. The new expansion is enough to supply energy to 10 aimag centers or 150 residential apartment complexes of 18,000 household families, for a comparison. This step helps Mongolia significantly reduce Russia’s energy import from 250 MW down to 110 MW, and supply over 90 percent of total power demands using own domestic sources. The combined heating and power plant No.4 now alone supplies 70 percent of power of the country’s central region energy system and 65 percent of heat consumption of Ulaanbaatar. The ceremony to officially commission the latest expansion at the Thermal Power Plant No.4 located in Ulaanbaatar was held today, January 11, with Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh took part in the event and made remarks. “In December 2020, the government of Mongolia made a decision to cover utility costs (electricity, heat, water and waste bills) of households and businesses until July 1, 2021, with a view to alleviate negative impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. This expansion will play an important role in maintaining reliable supply to meet increasing consumption for electricity and heating and peak demand in winter season” said the Prime Minister. He also extended gratitude for companies participated in the expansion project, and mentioned that construction and expansion projects for Tavan Tolgoi, Choibalsan and Amgalan thermal power plants and Erdeneburen hydro power plant are waiting to be implemented in the next three years as part of the country’s mission to fully supply its energy demand on its own. The expansion of the Thermal Power Plant No.4 was jointly performed by Mongolia’s Thermal Power Plant No.4, state-owned stock company and Russia’s Ural Turbine Works company, and several other domestic companies took part in the development as contractors. During the event, Minister of Energy N.Tavinbekh noted tender will be announced on January 13, 2021 to take bids for a contractor for the Erdeneburen hydro power plant and also, blueprint for the Tavan Tolgoi Power Plant have already been launched. “The Tavan Tolgoi power plant is expected to ensure full supply of power to Oyu Tolgoi mine in Umnugobi aimag.”